chapter forty:
❛ the truth ❜

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Alison's worry gnawed at her as she looked around Miguel's apartment. The party was in full swing, music thumping and people dancing, but her mind was on Clementine. She'd invited Clementine to the celebration, hoping it would be a chance for her to relax and enjoy after the Sekai Taikai announcement. But Clementine never showed up after going to the bathroom, and Alison's anxiety grew with each passing minute.

Robby stood beside her, his concern mirroring hers. "I'm really worried about Clem," he admitted, his voice low and strained as he leaned against the kitchen counter.

Alison nodded, her fingers gripping her phone tightly. "Me too. She never came back from the bathroom, and she's not answering my calls or texts. Clementine only does this when something important or bad happens. I've been trying to reach her, and nothing."

Robby bit his lip, a troubled expression on his face. "You don't think... she tried to..."

Alison's eyes widened in alarm, and she shook her head quickly. "I don't think she would. But with her aunt gone and her brother away... damn it, we should be out looking for her."

Without waiting for a response, Alison hopped down from the counter and headed for the door. Robby hurried after her, but by the time he reached it, Alison had already gotten into her car and driven off.

As Alison sped down the street, her mind was a whirlwind of fear and frustration. She was so focused on finding Clementine that she didn't notice Sam sitting on the sidewalk, tears streaming down her face. Sam's gaze lifted when she saw Clementine approaching with Tory, and her eyes widened in shock.

"Clementine? Where have you been? Everyone's been worried about you. And why is she here?" Sam's voice was sharp, her fists clenched.

Clementine stepped forward, her face set with determination. "She's not here to fight, Sam. She has something to tell you."

Tory took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "You didn't lose the All Valley."

Sam's eyes widened in disbelief, and she wiped away her tears with an angry swipe. Her emotions boiled over, and with a furious yell, she shoved Tory into the garbage bins behind them. Clementine gasped, stepping between them to intervene.

"Sam, stop!" Clementine shouted, her voice strained. "God, I'm done with this rivalry! Just be happy that Tory told you! You're such an ungrateful brat! You need to learn to stop! You're always throwing jabs at Tory! You're the reason this stupid rivalry started. You need to learn to keep your mouth shut!"

Sam's face turned red with rage as she glared at Clementine, then shoved her away. She swung a fist at Tory, who managed to dodge, and Clementine took the opportunity to step in front of Sam.

"Stop it, Sam!" Clementine yelled, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and desperation. "I'm done with this fight! I'm done with all of it! Just be grateful that Tory told you what you needed to know!"

Sam was relentless. She kicked the dumpster with a furious scream, her anger seemingly directed at both Tory and Clementine. "My entire family has suffered because of you!" she shouted, glaring at Tory, then turning her ire on Clementine. "And you! You can't stop being friends with the enemies!"

Clementine's fists clenched, her jaw tightening. "You have no idea what Tori's been through! I know I used to act out, but I'm trying to manage my anger. You haven't learned anything. You're always reacting before thinking. You have no idea what Tory is going through."

Miguel and Robby appeared, rushing over to separate them. Miguel positioned himself protectively in front of Sam, while Robby stood beside Clementine, his eyes filled with concern.

"No! Sam, that's enough!" Miguel shouted, his voice firm and commanding.

"Clem, where have you been?" Robby asked, his face etched with worry.

Clementine's emotions were on edge, and she glanced over at Sam with frustration. "Tory's been working with Kreese this whole time! And Clementine helped Tory!" Sam complained, pointing an accusing finger.

"Shut up, Sam! You don't know what it's been like for Tory!" Clementine shot back, her voice rising in anger.

Sam's glare was fierce as she continued to shout. "Says the one who beat a girl to a pulp and never got in trouble for it!"

Clementine's face went pale, and she stammered, "How... how do you know about that?"

"Screw you, Larusso!" Tory snapped, then turned and sprinted off into the night.

Robby watched Tory leave, his worry deepening. Clementine walked around him, and Miguel remained in front of Sam, protecting her. Clementine turned to Sam, her voice steady but filled with resolve.

"I'm not gonna hurt her, Miguel," Clementine said before facing Sam. "You need to learn to shut your mouth. I know what I did to Blair a year ago, but I'm trying to be better. I used to act first and think later, but I'm working on it. You, on the other hand, haven't learned yet. You don't understand what Tory is going through."

Sam was left speechless, her anger deflating as Clementine pushed through the crowd of partygoers and into Miguel's apartment. Robby followed closely behind, catching up to Clementine and pulling her inside.

"Clem, you can't keep doing this," Robby said, his voice a mix of frustration and concern as he pulled her into the kitchen. "You can't just disappear when something happens and not answer anyone's texts or calls."

Clementine pulled away, her face flushed with anger. "Just because I don't answer a call or text doesn't mean I'm off in an alley dead!"

Robby's expression softened, and he sighed deeply. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you. I don't want to lose you."

Clementine's anger subsided as she looked at Robby, her eyes softening. "I've been doing good in therapy, okay? I told you that... But if it helps, I can start turning my location on for you and Alison."

Robby's concern melted into relief, and he pulled Clementine into a tight hug. She buried her face in his shoulder, finding comfort in his embrace. After a moment, they pulled back, and Robby leaned in to kiss her. Their lips met in a gentle, tender kiss, full of the unspoken promise of support and understanding. Robby's hands cradled her face, and Clementine's fingers lightly touched his cheek. The kiss deepened, their emotions flowing freely as they reaffirmed their connection.

When they finally broke apart, Robby looked at Clementine with a worried frown. "What did Sam mean about you beating someone to a pulp?"

Clementine sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "During the school fight last year, I didn't really witness everything because I was too busy beating Blair up. I threatened her not to tell anyone... I'm not sure how Sam found out."

Robby's expression was a mix of concern and understanding. "Thanks for telling me."

Clementine nodded, her emotions finally finding a sense of calm. Robby gently kissed her forehead, and she leaned into him, feeling a renewed sense of support and warmth. The tension between them eased as they stood together, finding comfort in each other's presence.

Clementine approached her porch, her heart heavy with the weight of the day's events. Alison sat on the steps, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. Clementine's heart clenched, and she quickly walked over, taking a seat beside her friend.

"Alison, I'm so sorry," Clementine said, her voice trembling with a mix of concern and guilt. "I didn't mean to worry you. I just need to explain what happened."

Alison looked up, her eyes swollen and red. "You've been gone for hours, Clem. We were all so worried about you. Why didn't you let anyone know where you were?"

Clementine took a deep breath, struggling to keep her emotions in check. "I know, and I'm really sorry for that. After the competition, I followed Tory. She told me she actually won the All Valley, but Silver paid off the referee to make Cobra Kai win. It happened again at the Sekai Taikai auditions. Tory and I decided that we couldn't let Cobra Kai win under those circumstances, so we tried to expose the truth."

Alison's eyes widened in shock. "Wow. That's... a huge deal. I can't believe Silver did that. But why didn't you come to us for help?"

Clementine sighed. "I should have. I was trying to sort things out on my own, and when we went to tell Sam, she completely lost it. She started attacking Tory, and Tory ran off. I tried to stop Sam. I told her, 'I'm done with this rivalry! Just be happy that Tory told you! You're always throwing jabs at her, and you're the reason your stupid rivalry started. You need to learn to keep your lips shut.'"

Alison's eyes were wide with disbelief. "You really said that to her? I can't believe Sam reacted that way."

"And... and Sam knows what I did to Blair."

"What did you do to Blair?"

Clementine looked down, her face flushing with a mix of shame and discomfort. "At the school fight, I was actually busy dealing with Blair. I threatened her not to tell anyone about it. I didn't realize Sam knew. I guess she found out somehow."

Alison's shock was evident. "I had no idea you did that. I knew you were going through stuff, but this... it's a lot."

Clementine nodded, her own guilt washing over her. "I know. I should have been honest. Robby and I talked about this already. I'm trying to be better, but I've made mistakes. I was just trying to figure things out, and I didn't want anyone to know."

Alison's expression softened, though her frustration was still visible. "I get that you were trying to handle things on your own, but not telling anyone where you were going just made everything worse. We were worried sick. I'm really pissed off at you for that."

Clementine's shoulders sagged as she nodded. "I understand. I'm sorry. I had the same conversation with Robby. I'll do better about keeping you and him informed. I'll start turning my location on for both of you so you know where I am."

Alison sighed, wiping her eyes and giving Clementine a small, understanding smile. "Thanks for telling me everything. I just want you to be safe and not go through this alone. We need to communicate better."

Clementine's face softened, and she reached out, pulling Alison into a tight hug. "I'm really sorry for all this. I should have been more open with you. I promise I'll try harder."

Alison hugged her back, her tears slowing. "We'll get through this together. I'm just glad you're okay."

After a few moments, the two friends pulled away from the hug. Alison's gaze was still concerned, but she gave Clementine a reassuring smile. "You're not alone in this. Let's just make sure we stay honest with each other from now on."

Clementine nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and determination. "Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for understanding, Alison."

As they sat together on the porch, the weight of the day's events began to lift slightly. The bond between them was strengthened by their honesty and mutual support, a reminder that despite the chaos, they had each other to rely on.

ASH SPEAKS!

sorry for the shortish chapter, but next chapter will be a long one!! it will include the storyline at the party with daniel, amanda, chozen, johnny and carmen! im gonna have caleb go and then the parts where the teens go confront stingray! so this is part 1 of ep 9!

don't forget to comment and vote! it helps us writers stay motivated!